Council discusses ongoing issues with Third Street flags
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Mayor Kim Ecklund spoke with the city council during their City Council members have been receiving complaints about the American flags that hang on the Third Street bridge not being hung or displayed correctly, as they get twisted around their respective poles.
The issue was discussed during the most recent council work session, along with ways that might be fixed.
The issue was first brought up in the public works committee and brought before the full work session by Councilman Daniel Gonzalez, D-At Large and chair of the Public Works Committee. Gonzalez said they are looking into ways that they might be able to fix that issue.
Mayor Kim Ecklund also discussed the issue, saying it was something they have been trying to figure out for a while.
"That is something that this office and the Parks department have been addressing for months," Ecklund said. "I want to get a little clarity out there on that. Those flags were given by a generous gift by a family to be put on the Third Street bridge."
Ecklund said the Parks Department and Veterans Commission have been battling to keep the flags from getting twisted for two years. This has involved putting weights on the flags and other attempts including putting up other poles.
"This is not an easy task," Ecklund said. "I know that there's a sample of one that's in testing right now that has been designed by the Parks Department and some other people. Hopefully this will work, but I want the public to be aware that we appreciate the generosity of someone donating all of those flags and maintaining them."
Additionally, Ecklund said it is not as easy as putting a pole out there because there is a chance of it coming off and hitting someone or something, and the city is liable if that happens. Figuring out what will work with the flags has been "a very onerous task."
"It's difficult to say the least because of the wind," Ecklund said. "I don't want people to think it hasn't been addressed. I wish it was a simple answer, but it's not."